More evidence needed to prosecute Prabowo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National Military Chief Maj. Gen. Syamsu Djalal
\nsaid on Saturday that investigators were still looking for
\nfurther evidence to prosecute former Army Special Force
\n(Kopassus) chief Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto for his
\ninvolvement in the abductions of political activists.<\/p>\n
\"Prabowo has admitted his involvement in the abductions, as
\nquoted by Army Chief Gen. Subagyo, and (abduction) is a criminal
\nact,\" Syamsu was quoted by Antara news agency as saying in
\nPontianak, West Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Syamsu, the newly installed deputy attorney general for
\nintelligence, was visiting the province to meet local officials
\nof the attorney general's office.<\/p>\n
Subagyo led a seven-member Officers Honor Council in August
\nformed to question Prabowo and two other Kopassus officers over
\ntheir involvement in the abductions. The Armed Forces had
\nannounced in July the suspected involvement of Kopassus members
\nin the abductions.<\/p>\n
Before the council, Prabowo admitted involvement in the
\nabductions of nine political activists who have resurfaced.<\/p>\n
Syamsu did not say precisely when Prabowo would be court-
\nmartialled.<\/p>\n
The independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of
\nViolence (Kontras) has said that at least 24 activists have gone
\nmissing since April last year. Nine returned after several
\nmonths, relating details of the abductions and torture suffered
\nduring their detention. Another was found dead in May and the
\nrest remain unaccounted for.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense and Security\/ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto
\ndischarged Prabowo and removed two senior Kopassus officers from
\nactive duty in August for involvement in the abductions of
\npolitical activists. Eleven other members of Kopassus are
\nreportedly facing court-martial.<\/p>\n
Kontras' coordinator Munir has said that no military tribunal
\nshould be held until the fate of all of the missing activists was
\nknow because it would be legally infeasible to try the officers
\nfor the same case if further evidence was found later on.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said in August the military did not know the
\nwhereabouts of the activists and promised to keep searching for
\nthem.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 16 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Sumatra
\naccused two oil and gas companies in Aceh of providing facilities
\nto the military during its operation to suppress the separatist
\nmovement in the province in the past decade.<\/p>\n
In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post, the NGOs,
\nincluding Walhi, the Indonesian Environmental Forum, Kontras
\nLhokseumawe and Aceh NGOs Forum, demanded that the companies
\napologize to and compensate victims of alleged military
\natrocities.<\/p>\n
The National Commission on Human Rights said in August that
\nmilitary committed many serious human rights abuses, including
\nthe killings of more than 780 people, during its operation in the
\ncountry's northernmost province. (byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-evidence-needed-to-prosecute-prabowo-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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